Underwater Visual Surveys Dataset

The uvs/ dataset contains all data collected using Pristine Seas’ SCUBA-based underwater visual survey (UVS) protocols. These methods assess reef fish, benthic cover, invertebrates, and coral recruits at spatially co-located reef sites, using a standardized and depth-stratified survey design.

Each UVS site typically includes multiple stations across depth strata (e.g., shallow, deep), where several survey protocols may be conducted in parallel.

The dataset is structured to balance:

This architecture enables flexible, protocol-specific analysis and integrated reef assessments across taxa and trophic groups.

1 Dataset Structure

uvs/
├── sites               # Deployment-level metadata for each UVS dive
├── stations            # Depth-stratified units within each dive
├── blt_stations        # Fish transects (BLT)
├── blt_observations    # Raw fish counts
├── blt_biomass_by_taxa # Station-level biomass summaries
├── lpi_stations        # Benthic transects
├── lpi_counts          # Raw point intercepts
├── lpi_cover_by_taxa   # Cover summary by benthic taxon
├── inverts_stations    # Invertebrate survey transects
├── inverts_counts      # Raw invertebrate observations
├── recruits_stations   # Coral recruit transects
├── recruits_counts     # Raw coral recruit counts

Each table is documented in its own section below.

2 Tables

2.1 uvs.sites

This table contains site-level metadata for all underwater visual surveys. Each row represents a discrete SCUBA dive at a location, typically involving multiple co-located survey protocols (e.g., fish BLT, LPI, inverts, recruits).

It follows the core site schema defined in expeditions.sites, with additional UVS-specific fields (Table 1)

Table 1: Adiditonal fields in the uvs.sites table
Field Type Required Description
site_name STRING false Local site name. Used in previous surveys or by local partners
habitat STRING true Dominant reef habitat type (e.g., fore reef, patch reef, fringing reef)
exposure STRING true Wave and wind exposure (e.g., windward, leeward, lagoon)
protected BOOLEAN false Whether the site is inside a marine protected area (MPA)
blt BOOLEAN false Indicates whether fish belt transects were conducted
lpi BOOLEAN false Indicates whether benthic point intercept surveys were conducted
inverts BOOLEAN false Indicates whether invertebrate surveys were conducted
recruits BOOLEAN false Indicates whether coral recruit transects were conducted
ysi BOOLEAN false Indicates whether YSI environmental profiles were collected
photomosaic BOOLEAN false Indicates whether a photomosaic survey was conducted
edna BOOLEAN false Indicates whether eDNA samples were collected at the site
Controlled vocabulary

habitat

  • fore reef — Outer reef slope exposed to ocean swell.
  • back reef — Sheltered zone behind the reef crest
  • fringing reef — Reef growing directly from the shoreline
  • patch reef — Isolated reef outcrop within a lagoon or sandy area
  • reef flat — Shallow, flat reef section, often exposed at low tide
  • channel — Natural break or passage between reef structures
  • seagrass — Vegetated, soft-bottom habitat dominated by seagrasses
  • rocky reef — Reef formed by consolidated rock
  • other — Habitat not captured by the above categories

exposure

  • windward — Facing prevailing winds and swell
  • leeward — Sheltered from prevailing winds
  • lagoon — Within an enclosed or semi-enclosed reef lagoon
  • other — Exposure type not described above